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Tag Archive for: learn spanish

Why Adults Struggle to Learn Spanish

News

So you’ve been dreaming about speaking Spanish fluently.

Maybe you’ve downloaded all the apps, bookmarked YouTube videos, or even memorized flashcards on your commute.

And yet… when you actually try to speak Spanish, it feels like your brain freezes. 😅

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

The truth is, most adults struggle to learn Spanish because they’re not really practicing it the right way.

Here’s why—and how we fix it at Pura Buena Onda.

Apps Aren’t Enough (and Here’s Why)

Trying to learn how to speak Spanish from an app is like trying to learn how to play baseball by reading books ABOUT baseball.

You can read all the rules.

You can memorize batting averages.

You can even practice your swing in front of the mirror.

But until you’re actually on the field, with a ball coming at you, you’re not really playing the game.

Language is the same.

You can memorize endless vocabulary lists, but until you’re in a real conversation—listening, responding, and sometimes fumbling through—you won’t truly own the language.

What Most Adults Are Missing

Most adults learning Spanish are missing two key ingredients:

  1. Real, live practice.

    Language lives in your ears and your mouth—not just in a textbook or on a screen.

  2. Immediate feedback.

    You don’t just need to say something; you need someone to say, “Hey, here’s a better way to say that!” so you can actually improve.

Without those two pieces, you’re stuck in “theory mode”—you know about the language, but you can’t use it.

How Pura Buena Onda Changes the Game

At Pura Buena Onda, we don’t just teach you about Spanish—we put you on the field and throw you the ball.

What does that mean?

✅ You speak Spanish. A lot.

No hiding behind apps. From day one, you’re in real conversations with real people.

✅ You get corrected (in a kind, encouraging way).

So you learn faster—and actually remember.

✅ You listen to others.

You hear different accents, different speeds, and different ways of saying things—just like in the real world.

✅ You build confidence.

Because you’re actually using the language, not just studying it.

Stop Studying. Step Up to the Plate.

If you want to play baseball, you don’t just read the playbook—you grab a glove and step up to the plate.

If you want to speak Spanish, you don’t just tap through an app—you need real, live, back-and-forth conversation.

That’s what we do at Pura Buena Onda – Conversational Spanish.

We give you a safe, fun, and supportive space to practice for real—so Spanish finally “clicks.”

Ready to stop studying and start swinging?

👉 Learn more about our conversational Spanish classes!

July 17, 2025
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Simple-Profile-Photo-Instagram-Post-1.png 600 600 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2025-07-17 13:41:462025-07-17 13:41:46Why Adults Struggle to Learn Spanish

Student advancement – Sean to B3!

News

My name is:
Sean

My new level is:
B3

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?
3-5 horas

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?
1 – 2 classes a la semana

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?
“PBO ha sido absolutamente fundamental  para mejorar mi español. Me da la oportunidad practicar hablando con otros hispanohablantes y la motivación continuar aprendiendo para que yo pueda expresarme mejor cada clase. No podría haberlo hecho sin la ayuda de PBO.
PBO has been absolutely fundamental en improving my spanish. It gives me the opportunity to practice speaking with other spanish speakers and the motivation to keep learning so that I can express myself better every class. I could not have done it with PBO’s help. ”

What are some of your favorite resources?
“Me encanta Twitter porque puedo encontrar un montón de hispanohablantes y leer muchos hilos en español. También sigo a noticieros en Twitter para mantenerme al día de las noticias en español. Llevo escuchando el podcast Conclusiones (de CNN) recietemente. Aún quiero mirar mas programas y leer más libros en español.
I love Twitter because i can find a bunch of spanish speakers and read many threads in spanish. I also follow the news on twitter to help keep myself up to date on spanish news. I’ve been listening to the podcast Conclusiones (by CNN). I still want to watch more shows and read more books in spanish.”

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
“Todo el mundo debería aprender otros idiomas, especialmente la gente en los estados unidos, en que mucha gente sólo habla su lengua nativa.
Everybody should learn other languages, especially people in the United States, where many people only speak their first language.”

¡Gracias Sean!

¡Felicidades a Sean por avanzar al nivel B3! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

June 28, 2021
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sean-scaled-e1624843794322.jpeg 1747 1576 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2021-06-28 10:30:552021-06-27 18:33:33Student advancement – Sean to B3!

Student Advancement – Aaron to A3!

News

My name is:

Aaron

My new level is:
A3
Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?
20-30 minutes per day
On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?
1 group class per week
What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?
Pura Buena Onda has helped me “get serious” about learning Spanish. I’ve played on language learning apps for many months, but PBO helped bridge the gap between knowing words and phrases and comprehension and conversation!
What are some of your favorite resources?
The SpanishDict app has been my rock for verb conjugations. I also enjoy listening to the Coffee Break Spanish podcast on my way to work.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
PBO has been the BEST way to practice speaking because it’s a judgement-free group of students on the same level. There is no fear of making mistakes and we have great conversations together!

Thank you Aaron!

¡Felicidades a Aaron por avanzar al nivel A3! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

January 25, 2021
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/aaron-scaled.jpeg 1920 1440 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2021-01-25 10:21:292021-01-24 13:29:22Student Advancement – Aaron to A3!

Student Advancement – Penny to C1!

News

My name is:

Penny
My new level is:
C1
Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?
I try to practice or listen to some Spanish every day, but the bulk of it is on Sundays when I lead our Spanish-language worship service and preach every other week.
On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?
Once
What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?
PBO has been everything! Having the weekly class and the homework keeps me moving forward.
What are some of your favorite resources?
I enjoy the daily Facebook question, even if I don’t always write a response. Adri is an incredibly gifted and creative teacher, and the conversations in her class are very enriching. I listen to the Hoy Hablamos podcast regularly and watch occasional TV shows and TED talks.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I remember my first classes very clearly from 4 1/2 years ago: I was almost a total beginner and I was really scared to actually speak Spanish. Susana was my first teacher and she was very kind and patient. I am thrilled to have reached the advanced level. PBO offers exactly the kind of encouragement that adult learners need.

Thank you Penny!

¡Felicidades a Penny por avanzar al nivel C1! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

January 18, 2021
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Penny.jpeg 699 614 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2021-01-18 18:42:292021-01-18 18:42:29Student Advancement – Penny to C1!

Student Level advancement – Paula to A2!

News

My name is:

Paula 

My new level is:

A2

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?

I work about 30 minutes per day on homework and I try to think in Spanish as much as possible throughout the day.

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?

I take classes once a week but more often would be better.

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?

I’ve spent many years learning grammar in a classroom setting and i knew that i needed more practice speaking. The teachers at PBO are amazing, they work together so well and provide feedback, and have helped me with my confidence to speak. So happy that my Spanish speaking ability is improving.

What are some of your favorite resources?

For fun I follow PBO on Instagram and now the blog, but mostly the teachers and fellow students are my favorite resources.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Congrats on 13 years!! So glad i found you when I did!

 

Thank you Paula!

¡Felicidades a Paula por avanzar al nivel A2! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

January 11, 2021
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Paula-Konoske-IMG_8712.jpeg 320 240 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2021-01-11 10:27:162021-01-18 18:33:08Student Level advancement – Paula to A2!

Student Level Advancement – Quan to A2!

News

My name is:

Quan 

My new level is:

A2

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?

0

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?

1

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?

Listening and responding to questions.

What are some of your favorite resources?

wordreference, google translate

 

Thank you Quan!

¡Felicidades a Quan por avanzar al nivel A2! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

January 4, 2021
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/QuanJPG.jpg 1080 1620 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2021-01-04 10:06:132021-01-18 18:38:32Student Level Advancement – Quan to A2!

Student Advancement – Missy to C1

News

My name is:

Missy 

My new level is:

C1

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?

10-15 hours per week

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?

Recently 2

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?

PBO has played the most important role in my journey. From the beginning, they made it more comfortable to start speaking which was the hardest part and from then on, everyone has been patient and encouraging along the way and has offered multiple different types of opportunities to improve. The teachers are incredible and the community that Caro has built is the best part. I have an amazing group of friends to learn and practice with because of PBO. 

What are some of your favorite resources?

I’ve been into listening to a lot of podcasts lately, I started with News In Slow Spanish a few years ago but now try to listen to Buenos Días America most weekdays. I also love No Hay Tos, Platicando, and Hoy Hablamos and have made it a recent goal to listen to all available episodes of Radioambulante. Netflix has so many good shows in Spanish (my favorites include La Casa de Papel, Gran Hotel, Las Chicas del Cable, El Internado, there are many more). The McGraw Hill books are great if you are a nerd like me. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

PBO has changed my life and I can’t thank them enough. I would never have imagined 4-5 years ago that I could now have a coherent conversation with someone in Spanish and love the process so much! 

Thank you Missy!

¡Felicidades a Missy por avanzar al nivel B2! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

December 21, 2020
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/missy-1-scaled.jpeg 1920 1440 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2020-12-21 19:31:512021-01-18 18:37:30Student Advancement – Missy to C1

Student Advancement: Cassandra to A3

News

My name is:

Cassandra

My new level is:

A3

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?

30 minutes every day

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?

1-2 times

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?

It’s everything!! Nothing better than conversation. I love how interactive the teachers are.

What are some of your favorite resources?

Babbel, books

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Thank you for everything!

¡Felicidades a Cassandra por avanzar al nivel A3! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

November 30, 2020
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cassandra.jpeg 2016 1504 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2020-11-30 10:00:392020-11-29 17:15:47Student Advancement: Cassandra to A3

Student Advancement: Jeff to B3

News

My name is:
Jeff

 

My new level is:
B3

 

Approximately how much time do you dedicate to working on your Spanish outside of class?
About an hour a day

 

On average, how many times per week do you take classes @ Pura Buena Onda?
Once per week

 

What role has Pura Buena Onda played in helping you improve your Spanish & advance to the next level?
It has kept me focused on always improving. It stops me from being complacent about where I am in my learning. It provides a fun environment to practice every week.

 

What are some of your favorite resources?
Netflix shows in Spanish, speaking a little at home with my partner, news websites in Spanish.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
PBO has provided the essential guidance and encouragement that I needed to keep pushing myself to advance my learning. I tell everyone I know about it and hope that I can get more students to join.

 

¡Felicidades a Jeff por avanzar al nivel B3! ¡Bien hecho! We are so happy to have you in our online Spanish classes!

November 23, 2020
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_0728.jpg 1280 1149 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2020-11-23 08:27:072020-11-22 13:28:52Student Advancement: Jeff to B3

How to advance to an Intermediate level of Spanish

News

Hola amigos y amigas:

Today we will continue our journey through the PBO levels. This time, we’ll look at how to advance to an intermediate level of Spanish!

 

1 – Increase the complexity of your speech.

How do you achieve this?

  • Start telling stories to a friend, to yourself or in class. You need to talk less about short daily experiences, and tell more stories.
  • Read the news. It might be a bit challenging, but it’s an excellent way to broaden your vocabulary. The podcast News in slow Spanish is also amazing!
  • In addition, start talking about complex subjects. They can be about things you’re struggling with at the moment, controversial subjects, current events, etc.

 

2 – Diversify your knowledge of tenses.

How do you achieve this?

  • To advance to an intermediate level of Spanish, talk about the past more often (to use the preterit and the imperfect). Telling stories, which we advised before, is a perfect way to practice the past tenses, as you will have to use several of the past tenses in each story.
  • Dabble in the future tense. Get used to it, as native speakers use it a lot alongside the construction “ir + a + verb” (voy a beber or beberé).
  • Also, dabble in the conditional tense. It will allow you to put together more complex sentences, and to express things you “would” do.

 

3 – Increase you comprehension.

How do you achieve this?

  • Watch shows in Spanish. You will not understand everything, but you’ll get used to the speed of natives. (Tip: It’s best to start watching series/telenovelas, since the stories develop over time, unlike in a movie, where everything happens so quickly – there are TONS of Spanish language shows on Netflix).
  • Read more in Spanish. It is a great way to get acquainted with verb tenses, learn vocabulary and discover new expressions. Caro is a huge fan of audiobooks, which also allows you to learn to understand native speakers with more ease. She uses Audible, but you can also listen to books for free on some websites and on YouTube.
  • Another way to advance to an intermediate level of Spanish is to talk to Spanish speakers. Go beyond greetings. Try to have longer and more complex conversations. (You could ask them: Why did you move to San Diego? What do you like and dislike about San Diego? What do you miss about your country?)

 

We hope that our How to advance to an Intermediate level of Spanish blog was useful! Let us know what you think in the comment section on Facebook.

For everyone who is in B1: next week we’ll find out ways to move up to B2.

 

¡Les deseo una buena semana!

Octavi

June 3, 2019
https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png 0 0 Pura Buena Onda Team https://purabuenaonda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PBO-Logo-JosephinSans.png Pura Buena Onda Team2019-06-03 13:55:082019-06-03 13:55:08How to advance to an Intermediate level of Spanish
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